After accounting for the free-agent departures of LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher and Aqib Talib last March, as well as the free-agent additions of Brandon LaFell and Brandon Browner, the league’s compensatory formula delivered New England an additional third- and seventh-round draft choice to use this spring.

New England’s third-round compensatory pick will mark the first of its kind to be on the board May 1, and 31 other picks by 14 teams – including the Patriots – will follow through the end of the seventh round.

None of which are allowed to be traded. But New England’s placement in the 2015 draft order adds considerable flexibility.

The organization now has four picks landing inside the first 100 and five on day three, after a fourth-rounder, a sixth-rounder and a seventh-rounder were acquired in trades with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans during the 2014 season.